47.5 MB - The Whole Building Design Guide

Even if a facility is unlikely to sustain extensivestructural damage from flooding, highcosts and delayed reoccupancy may resultfrom flood-damaged utility systems. The riskreduction design measures described belowcan be applied, whether undertaken as part oflarge-scale retrofits of existing buildings, or asseparate projects.Additional guidance on improving theflood resistance of utility installations inexisting buildings is found in FEMA 348,Protecting Building Utilities From FloodDamage: Principles and Practices for theDesign and Construction of Flood ResistantBuilding Utility Systems.Relocate from below-grade areas: The most vulnerable utility installationsare those located below grade, and the most effectiveprotection measure is to relocate them to properly elevated floorsor platforms that are at least 2 feet above the DFE. The complexityof rerouting pipes, conduits, ductwork, electrical service, lines,and connections will depend on site-specific factors.Elevate components: Whether located inside or outside of thebuilding, some components of utility systems can be elevatedin-placeon platforms, including electric transformers,communications switch boxes, water heaters, air conditioningcompressors, furnaces, boilers, and heat pumps (see Figure 2-34).Figure 2-34:Elevated utility boxMAKING CRITICAL FACILITIES SAFE FROM Flooding2-85